Blame your church.

I don't go to church.

I think people are seriously overestimating the opening. Adult-oriented drama-thrillers don't tend to open north of 70 million... Sure the book fanbase and Hanks help it a great deal, but I still think that a 55 million opening and a 200+ million finish seems more reasonable.

The issue is not so much that there would be a lack of anticipation and interest for the movie, it's just that this film is NOT primarily sold to teenagers, and mature audiences tend to take their time instead of running to the theatre on the first evening.

People are forgetting that Hanks has NEVER opened a film with more than 30 million. But his movies are always very leggy. This has a lot do with the fact that he appeals to mature audiences more than any other star.

Getting his first 50+ million opener would be very impressive. Especially since this should have a 4+ multiplier.

A huge opening is cerrtainly POSSIBLE, but it seems to me that people are more HOPING for it, instead of giving reasonable arguments for it. The starpower of Hanks won't get the film there, because his movies never open huge. The trailers won't get the film there: They are good, but hardly groundbreaking.

The only reason to assume the film getting a 70+ million opening is the fanbase for the book. And maybe the book indeed has a huge enough fanbase who is waiting for the film. It did happen with HP and LOTR, and the film does look like a quality piece.

But I'm just thinking that if the film hits a VERY respectable 50 million opening, people will be seriously disappointed. And there never was any precedent anyway to expect it to make more than that. If it hits a 50 million opening, I think it will have a 200+ million finish. Not bad for a drama-thriller.

this one tops out at 150. 170 max.

And I still keep that no matter how much advertising they make.

My guesstimate for this movie keeps rising. Currently I'm expecting 250m domestic.

SINNER!!!

changing from 53/240 to 65/240

Just watch anything, and all people are talking about is The Da Vinci Code. This could be Hanks and Howard's biggest films ever.

Still too low!

This film is hugely anticipated and does have high interest as tracking shows, but I don't think this will mean an all that big weekend. It's exactly the type of film that people have high anticipation for, but don't mind seeing throughout its run (sortof like The Phantom Menace, which had huge legs due to the pop culture factor in which everyone saw it throughout the summer). The Da Vinci Code will perform similarly IMO, and will not have a huge opening (which I'm sure will have people whining of course, that's a given), but its legs will be great.

$65 m/$295 m

Depending on the extent of controversy and people boycotting the film, this total could go much higher.

bleh, I give it that much in at most 2 wks

It continues to rise on the Yahoo Buzz Chart. Its score has been excellent over the past month and it has consistantly stayed in the top five for the past two or three weeks. It's even ahead of X3 lately.

Im going to go with

68/226

The increasing buzz is undeniable. I'm upping my prediction to $65/$255

My first post here. I posted alot on boxofficemojo

The buzz on Da vinci is really picking. Its like the movie is coming out this friday, put i have to keep reminding myslef its next friday.

i see 65 million opening to 240-250 million

Hey, how you set up a avatar???

I think Da vinci is getting some serious buzz and should become the biggest opening this year so far (until the next weekend or when Superman or pirates open)

Welcome to KJ manny. I,d disagree with you on you,re da vinci opening stance thou. can't see it beating ice age 2 myself.

I guess now would be a good time to mention I've seen advertisements for this the size of buildings, literally. They're rehabbing an entire 15 floor building into a musuem at Columbus Circle, and the entire scaffolding was covered with a giant DVC ad for a week.

There's a massive add with lights out at Times Square right ow as well. There is huge marketing for this movie. Muh more than I've seen for any other one this year.

This is going to a have a massive opening. Legs depend on quality and conflit, however.

I still think it'll go north of 300 millio if it even gets 80% over at RT or 7.0 at IMDB users, etc.

The last factors, that MI3 and Poisidon would detract from its opening is out of the way. It'll open higher than IA2, and I'm going to throw it out there that it'll open higher than X3 as well, though not POTC2.

Welcome to KJ, Manny!!

You will have to use Imageshack or something similar to upload an avatar.

just joined today because of magnus

DVC looks like the movie to beat this month after MI3 disappointed and don't really feel good about X3 either.

I just heard the DVC soundtrack and it sounds great, a good job by Zimmer

OW = $68M
Final = $265M

I think it will do 80/270

Whoa! I just saw where the odds are opening weekend for Da Vinci Code:

From Yahoo:

"Currently, according to online sports book BetCRIS, the odds of The Da Vinci Code having a $105.1 million or better opening weekend (Friday to Sunday) are 2 to 1. More than $120.1 million--4 to 1. If you like to live dangerously, you could go for the 25 to 1 odds that the film will make $35 million or less."

http://ca.movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/eo/2 ... 66000.html

Those are very very optimistic odds!

Jesus Christ. I could see $70 million opening weekend, but $100 million? Yikes.